Frequent attacks have been conducted by the Islamist militants in recent months causing serious damage to infrastructure and resulting in deaths.

Despite that, the Islamic State has not yet taken control of oil fields in Libya as they have in Syria and Iraq.

According to Reuters, ISIS has deployed a large group of fighters at several strategic oil fields and there are fears the jihadist group is planning a deadly attack on foreign workers.

A security source told Reuters that fighters loyal to Islamic State had been mobilising in Nawfiliyah, a town between the extremist group’s Libyan stronghold of Sirte and the oil ports of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf.

Earlier this month, five workers from an oil company were killed by suspected Islamic State militants near Bayda field, about 250 km south of Es Sider and Ras Lanuf.